Harness



(No Model.)

. BEHA.

HARNESS. No; 285,379. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR. v

% 47 04' N. Prrzns. Phmmho mr, Washington, n. c

1 desired. Because of the old way of stitching breast-collars of the same more adaptable to animal s body, and the leather does likewise UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BEH A, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,379, dated September 25, 1883.

' Application filed May 26,1883. (Nomodch To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN BEHA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Breeching-Bodies and Breast-Bands for Barness; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andv exact description of the construction of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has for its objects to improve and economize the construction of buggy-harness, to make the breeching, belly-bands, and

effective oiling and preservation in a soft and pliable state; to protect and preserve the stitching of the parts mentioned by shielding it' against contact with the body of the animal used, and thus preventingthe absorption of dandruff and perspiration by the stitching; to

characterize the parts mentioned by a more yielding action of their edges, and to prevent both the stitching on and the edges of these parts of the harness from chafing and irritating the animal s body. According to the mode of constructing these parts now in vogue, the edges of the leather from which they are made are first reduced to a feather edge, to prevent forming a lumpy or uneven surface in the body of the part. This reduction of the edges is a laborious operation, requiring skilled labor.

After this operation the piece is folded from each side, so that the edges will meet in the middle of the piece. They are then whipstitched together to secure the folds. A strip or layer of leather is laid over the seam. thus made, and is made to lap through and under rings or buckles at the ends of the parts, and the layer is then stitched entirely through both thicknesses of leather forming the body of the part. The layer is thus aflixed for purposes of strength, finish, and ornament, when entirely through the body of the parts, there appear on the inside of the parts two courses of waxed threads, which soon become hardened and raspy, and chafe and irritate the animal on which the harness is used. The stitches absorb dandruff and perspiration from the through numerous awl-holes necessitated by the stitching, thus causing the leather to harden, to crack, and to rot, and the parts are in time thus rendered worthless.

To obviate these premature results is the purpose of this improvement;v and its objects are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters refer to similar parts throughout the different views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section, showing the breeching cut away in the rear. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the breast-band, and represents the part which connects by buckle with the trace.

band, or breeching, illustrating the single fold by which their construction is characterized, and how the fold 011 the inside must protect the stitching which holds the layer, but passes through the outside fold only. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of either the breast band, belly-band, or breeching, showinghow they may be laid open for oiling the parts on the flesh side of the leather, (as well as from the grain side only,) which has not been the case heretofore.

The layer mentioned as part of the construction for obtaining laps for rings and buckles at the ends of the parts, and for adding strength, finish, and ornament to the same, is referred to by A.

B refers to the piece iorniing the main body of the part, to the outside fold of which the layer A is affixed by stitching.

E, F, and G, Fig. 1, refer to the usual staystraps for holding the breeching in proper position.

D refers to the backing-strap ring in common use.

.13 and C, Fig. 2, refer to the body of the breast-band, formed of a piece of leather folded at one side only. B is the outside fold, to which part only the layer A is stitched, leaving the fold O entirely disconnected by stitching, except at the laps for affixin g the rings or buckles at the ends of the parts.

J refers to the buckle for connecting with the trace; A, to the box-loop for receiving the end of the same.

I, H, and K refer to the ordinary ring, box- Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the breast-band, belly-- loop, buckle, and shoulder-strap for supporting the breast-band and trace in proper position.

It will readily be seen that on account of the breast-band, belly-band, and breeching being formed of single loose folds, theycan be laid open from one end to the other and oiled on both sides of the leather, which can thus be made more durable, and kept in a soft and pliable state. It will also be seen that on account of the stitching going through but one fold of the part, and the thickness of the other fold being between the stitching and the body of the animal 011 which the harness is used, the latter cannot absorb dandrufl" and perspiration, either by reason of threads or awl-holcs. In addition to these features it will also be seen that the construction is more economical,

by reason of saving expensive labor, and,1noreover, that it will prevent chafing and irritation to the animal on which such harness is used.

Having described the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

In draft-harness, the breast-ba11d, breeching, and belly-band, and other like parts, made with a single fold devoid of stitched edges, and having the additional layer stitched to the outside thickness only, substantially as specified, for the purpose set forth.

JOHN BEHA. 

